Mark Waid has impressed with this relaunch, which continues to embrace some of the Silver Age cachet of the property while still breathing new life into the characters and concepts. the writer offers up two stories in this issue, both illustrated by fill-in artists who perform so well it's difficult to miss regular artist Barry Kitson. The two stories explore opposing ideas here, and the overall result is a well-rounded examination of this incarnation of the Legion. The first story looks at the team as more of a movement, as an organization, demonstrating that this isn't just a bunch of super-powered pals hanging out in a clubhouse. But the latter story focuses on the relationships that form among the members, and it demonstrates that relationships are much more difficult than the sort of easy, instant connections that we saw among the Legion characters back in the 1960s.
The United Planets has passed a bogus piece of legislation that outlaws the Legion of Super-Heroes, and while it's a problem that can be quashed, in the short term, it's interfering to the Legionnaires' work. It's discovered that the Science Police crackdown is the result of one member's connection to the man running the law-enforcement agency... and the secret he tried to hide from him. Meanwhile, Karate Kid is developing feelings for Phantom Girl, who turns out not to be the easiest person to get to know.
Leonard Kirk was an excellent choice as a fill-in artist for this series. His work on the main story makes for a remarkably consistent tone with the style of Barry Kitson. He does a good job of the science-fiction elements and effects while capturing the over-the-top tone of the intense emotions boiling within Legion headquarters. Dave Gibbons's work on the backup story boasts a much softer tone, and that works well with the romantic nature of the plot. Gibbons is careful to convey the youth of these characters. There's an innocence to them that the reader can see, and it eliminates any kind of sexual overtone that a teen romance story could easily foster.
The main story opens with a look at Sun Boy's parents, who are essentially the 31st century equivalent of middle-aged hippies. We don't see too much of them, but their relaxed and positive attitude is infectious. It's clear why Waid chooses to introduce them here even though he hasn't much time to devote to them. First, we see Sun Boy embarrassed by his parents' enthusiasm and he secretly contemplates disappointing them by quitting the Legion. And then we see Invisible Kid, who defies his authoritarian father by joining the Legion. The Morgna and Norg families are reverse images of one another, yet have a lot in common as well.
Another aspect I appreciated in this issue was another role reversal. This time, it's Brainiac 5 who's in the role of good cop, with Cosmic Boy letting his ire and annoyance shine through. Waid wisely humanizes Brainy here without sacrificing the slightly harsher edge he's granted him with this revamp.
The backup story featuring Phantom Girl was my favorite part of the issue, mainly because I was so taken with Waid's new spin on Tinya Wazzo. He's tweaked her powers to arrive at another original reinterpretation, and it's fascinating. It couldn't have been easy to write her this way, but it's worth it. Furthermore, by casting Karate Kid in the role of would-be suitor to Phantom Girl, Waid also signals that while he's incorporated some traditional Legion elements into this new version, he's also planning to explore new character dynamics. 9/10
